Lubricant control device



yDe z:l24-, E935. J, F, MaclNDoE LUBRICANT CONTROL DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1930 num/f. z

TTO EY,

Patented Dec. 24, 1935V UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE Application January 21, 1930, Serial No. 422,302 Renewed February 15, 1934 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to lubricating devices and more particularly to a control means for regulating the quantity of grease or oil which discharges from a lubricator in a given time.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved means for Controlling the ow of lubricant from a lubricator or in a lubricating system; to provide a control for lubricating devices which is manually operable at will to vary the quantity of lubricant flowing through the control device; to provide a control for lubrieating devices which is simple in construction, efficient in operation and which can be set for a predetermined amount of lubricant iiow; to provvide a positive means for insuring a constant predetermined quantity of lubricant being delivered in a given time; to provide a lubricant control device wherein a coil spring serves as a control for the lubricant; to provide a manually settable -control' for lubricators or lubricating systems which is applicable for use in nipple pressure fittings, pressure controlled grease cups and other devices wherein a constant regulated supply of lubricant is required and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear. i

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 represents a sectional'elevation of a pressure fitting equipped with a control device embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on rline 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 represents a sectional elevation of a pressure operated lubricator equipped with a control of the present invention;

'and Fig. 6 represents a -section on line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing one form of the present invention consists of a body IB preferably of cylindrical shape which carries at one end a radially disposed circumferential flange II and has an axially disposed bore I2 therethrough, one portion of which is internally threaded as indicated at I3, to receive a stem I4 of an axially adjustable guide disc I5. This guide disc I5 is located on the outside of the member Il! at the opposite end from the flange II and forms with the converging end I6 of vthe body I0, a circumferential chamber Il into which lubricant enters as will be later explained. Interposed between the flange I I and the disc I5 there is a coil spring I8 which encircles the body I0 in contact relation therewith and is arranged to be placed under compression as required by the movement of the disc I 5 toward and away from the body IU. This adjusting movement of the disc I5 takes place (Cl. 13S-42) through the turning movement of the stem I4 by manually operating a knurled head 2| on the projecting end of the stem I4. Leakage around this projecting end of the stem I4 is prevented by any suitable form of a stuffing box 22 although 5 this latter is not always required since in some instances the stem terminates within a closed grease Cup.

In order to direct grease or oil to the inlet end of the spring I8, the flange II is provided with a 10 plurality of through ports 23 each of which is spaced radially a greater distance from the stem I4 than the'spring I8 so that this lubricant, after passing through the ports 23 can be directed against the side of the spring in close proximity to 15 the first convolution thereof. At the opposite end of the device, the disc I5 is provided with a plurality of discharge ports 24 each of which is located a less radial distance from the stem I4 than the spring I8 in order that the lubricant 20 being fed can pass through the spring into the chamber I1.

From the foregoing it will be evident that if the body Il) is held xed against rotation while the stem I 4 is rotated, the disc I5 can be fed 25 toward or away from the body III at will and in the one case increases the compression on the spring I8 and in the latter case decreases the compression of the spring I8 and in this way, varies the size of the helical passage formed by 30 the -spring and through which the lubricant passes to the discharge point. In the assembly of this device, provision must be made for anchoring the body III so that the turning thrust of the threaded stem axially in the desired manner.

The foregoing generally describes the control device of the present invention and it will be evident therefrom that its use is varied and that it can be readily assembled in various structures 40 for control purposes. Thus in Fig. l, it is shown as a part of a pressure grease tting wherein the body 25 of the iitting is provided with a bore 26 of a diameter to snugly receive the disc I5 of the control device and of a length suflicient to 45 provide an adequate space for the ordinary travel of the disc I5 and this space communicates with a reduced bore forming a discharge passage 21 axially through the end of the fitting. This end of the mung 25 is the usuai shank end of such 50 a iitting and is provided with an external thread` 2S for attachment to a part to be lubricated.

For closing the end of the tting 25 to provide a lubricant receiving inlet 30 and also to clamp the ange Il fast to the fitting to prevent any 55 I4 causes the latter to be fed 35 Y relative turning movement, a head 3| is provided having an internally threaded boss 32 for engaging the externally threaded end of the iitting 25. This head provides a receiving passage 33 in communication with the lubricant inlet and into which the ports 23 open. It should also be noted that this head 3| has an internal circumferential shoulder 34 which is brought into contact clamping relation withY the face of the flange II and holds the latter and the body I8 rmly in place.

Inconnection with the ports 23 as assembledl it should be noted that since the bounding wall of the bore 26 practically seats against the sides of the spring convolutions, provision has to be made for the lubricant to exit from the ports 23 against the sides of the spring I8 and preierably accomplished by counterboring the end'l of the tting 25 as shown at 39 to provide downwardly slanting guides leading to the sides of the spring convolutions. j Y Y In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the controlled device is shown located inY an axial bore 35 formed in anY externally threaded shank 36 of an automatically feeding lubricator which is designed to be attached to a bearing to be lubricated. This lubricator consists of'a cup body 31 of larger diameter Ythan the shank 36 and forming a chamber 38 into which the lubricant, such as grease, is injected by way of an inlet 40 in which is located a nipple 4I of the usual outwardly-closing check valve type, which is arranged to removably receive theY tting of a grease gun or other source of lubri* cant supply.

It will be noted that in this construction the flange II seats upon the. bottom of the chamber 38 and has two diametrically opposite edge notches 42 for respectively receiving inwardly disposed lugs 43 which are formed integral with the body 31. This provides a means for preventing relative turning movement of the flange with its attached body I0 with respect tothe cup body 31.

The hollow barrel or body 31 is here shown as its upper end open but arranged to be closed` by a packing ring 44 which is compressed in. Yplace by a threaded closure cap 45 which ts over the end of the body 31 and includes a stuffingr box structure 46 for encircling the end of a plunger rod 41 which extends exterior of the body 31 and terminates in a knurled head 48 soV that the parts can be manually adiusted. This rod 41 isconnectedto a piston 5II which is slidingly Vmounted in the chamber 38 and in the present instance consists of a plate 5I clamped between an upper cup washer 52 and a lower cup washer 53 by means of screws 54 or other fastening means for connecting the piston to the rod 41.

This piston 5I)r` is arranged to slide upwardly under the pressure of the supplied lubricant in order that the chamber 38 can be Yfilled and a reserve supply of lubricant. thus made. possible.

- Movement of the piston- 58 in the opposite di- `lar passage to provide aghelical path for the ton 50 to reciprocate relative to the stem I4 without interfering in any way with the set position of the controlled member I0 and any turning movement of the rod 41 will be transmitted to the stem I4 and thereby causes it to feed axially of the body III to vary the adjustment of the disc I5 in the manner required. The flange I I of the controlled member has its supply ports 23 opening into a circumferential chamber 51 formed by counterboring the upper end-of the bore 35 in order to direct theu supply of lubricant readily against the sides of the spring I8. 'I'he relative diameters of the body I0 and the bore 35 are such as to snugly receive the spring I8 while allowing it to be compressed or expanded at the will 'of the operator. Y

Where the control device of the present invention is used with a barrel or cup body 31 it will be understood that the chamber in this cup body serves first, as a storage. or emergency lreserve of 25A grease for supplying the bearings in case the main pressure supply should fail, or during such time as the refilling of the main grease control takes place. This construction also makesY it possible to use the unit as aseparate lubricant 30 r supply means which is Afilled by the attachment of a'grease gun to the nipple 4I; Thus the nipple 4I becomes an emergency attachment for applying pressure to expel grease quickly to a bearing which needs it and with a greater pressure than 35 would be supplied by the main line pressure.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a lubricant control device having a casingl with an inlet and an outlet connected by a bore,

a body member mounted in said bore and having 40 a portion spaced from the sides of said bore to provide therebetween an annular passageV connecting said inlet and said outlet, a coil spring arranged in contact with the walls of said annulubricant, said spring bearing at one end against a portion of said body member, a member bearing against the other end of the spring, and adjusting means connected to said member and thread-4 ed in said body member for compressing Vsaid spring to vary Vthe volumetric capacity of the helical path.

2. In a lubricant'control device, a hollow cylindrical casing member having an inlet and an outlet, a helical spring within the inner wall of 55 said easing, a body member arranged within said spring and in contact With the convolutions thereof, said body member having a rim portion at one end serving as an abutment for one end of said spring, the'inner Wall of said casing, the outerwall of said body member, and the convolutions of; said spring providing a helical passage for the discharge of lubricant, and lmeans for compressing said spring to vary the volume of lubricant discharged through said helical passage, said means including a member slidable within said casing member and abutting against the other end of said spring, and means for actuating said slidable member to compress said spring toward the rim portion of the body member.

3. In a lubricant control device, a hollow cylindrical casing member having an inlet and an outlet, a helical spring within the inner wall of said casing, a body Vmember arranged within said spring and in contact with the convolutions thereof, said body member having a rim portion at one end serving as an abutment for one end of said spring, the inner wall of said casing, the outer wall of said body member, and the convolutions of said spring providing a helical passage for the discharge of lubricant, and means for compressing said spring to vary the volume of lubricant discharged through said helical passage, said means including a member siidable within said casing member and abutting against the other end of said spring and a rod connected to said slidable member and threaded in said body member for actuating said slidable member to compress the spring toward the rim portion of the body member.

JOHN FRANKLIN MACINDOE. 

